March 2019

Go Floating in Eureka Springs

Audience Development Intern Corin Cesaric took a trip to Eureka Springs, AR for a weekend getaway and floated the afternoon away on an inflatable stand-up

By Corin Cesaric

May 01 2018 at 8 a.m.

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Photo by Corin CesaricLake Leatherwood is the perfect lake for beginners to paddleboard on since there are no boats.Purchase Photo

Sunny skies, good company and lots of sunscreen always make for a perfect outdoor day. At the beginning of September it was still warm enough to spend time on the water, so I made the scenic trip from Springfield to Eureka Springs to see what Float Eureka (216 W Van Buren, Eureka Springs, AR, 479-981-2689) was all about and give stand-up paddleboarding a try. After a couple hours of driving, me and my friend Jordain made it to the quaint business, which was conveniently located right next to our home for the weekend, The Wanderoo Lodge.

Rachel Spencer and her fiancé Max Deitchler opened Float Eureka in April 2018. “Both my fiancé and I are passionate floaters in our personal lives,” Spencer says. If you love being on the water like me, then this is a great place to visit. The small business is packed with stand-up paddleboards, kayaks and canoes available for rent, and the staff walks you through how to use each one if you’re a first timer.

Getting There

We arrived in Eureka Springs around noon. The drive is beautiful, with hills and rock formations along the way. But if you’re prone to car sickness, I suggest taking some motion sickness medicine or making sure you’re in the driver's seat.

We pulled into Float Eureka and started chatting with Adventure Specialist Patrick Schreffler He assured us the paddleboards would fit into my tiny two-door Honda Civic since they can deflate and roll up compactly. He walked us through the inflating process, which seemed easy enough to remember. Then he helped us choose our paddling spot for the day and we were off.

There are a ton of water options in the area. Some are just five minutes outside of town and others take a bit longer to reach, but each destination has something unique to offer floaters.

Photo by Corin CesaricA map at Float Eureka shows all of the area’s water options. When you decide on a location, they give you laminated guides that include directions and tips.Purchase Photo

We decided to go to Lake Leatherwood since it was super close and Schreffler told us there weren’t any motorized boats on the water. It seemed like a good choice for beginners. We packed the deflated boards into my car (with ease, fortunately), and we were off.

Setting Up

It only took about five minutes to get to the Lake Leatherwood from Float Eureka, and Shreffler gave us a laminated trip guide in case we had any issues. It was an easy drive and we ended up conveniently parking right by the water and a boat dock.

We rolled out the deflated boards and used an electric pump provided by Float Eureka to air up our boards to 13 PSI. After attaching the fin and the pin underneath the paddleboards (key components to not sinking), we were ready to get on the water. It only took 15 minutes to set up the inflatable boards and it was 100 percent worth it since that meant they could fit in my car. I doused myself in sunscreen and hit the water with my board.

Photo by Corin Cesaric

Audience Development Intern Corin Cesaric takes her paddleboard to the water after inflating it.

Out On The Water

I started out sitting on my knees and let the wind take me in whichever direction it pleased, but it took me straight to a massive amount of weeds in the water. I decided to pick up the pace and paddle in the opposite direction. I switched from sitting on my knees to standing on them, which allowed me to gain some speed.

The weather was perfect and the water was a great temperature, too. At one point, the breeze finally stopped and I decided it was time to stand. Well, I mean, fall. A lot. It was my first time on a stand-up paddleboard, okay? I felt confident enough to try standing, but I ended up losing my balance quickly and I fell head first into the water. I held onto my paddle like it was my only lifeline even though I was wearing a life jacket. You can say I’m one for the dramatics. I swam back to the board to try again.

"I’m up! I’m up! Look at me, Jo-… nevermind."

No surprise here, but I fell again. Only this time I fell backwards. Compared to a kayak or canoe, getting back on the board is pretty easy. After a lot of trial and error, I stood again and this time I stayed standing! We paddled around for a while, then sat on the boards to take a breather and snap some pictures with the disposable waterproof camera we brought. I could have stayed on the water forever, but it soon came time to head back to Float Eureka. Deflating the boards was easier than inflating them and we were out of there in 10 minutes.

We pulled in and Schreffler helped us haul everything back inside. Me and Jordain walked across the grassy yard and, just like that, we were in our room at The Wanderoo Lodge. It was time for a cold shower and a nap in our comfy king size bed before we hit the town.

Around The Town

Eureka Springs is full of cozy restaurants and unique bars that make for the perfect weekend getaway. Thanks to some of Spencer’s suggestions we ended up at the popular Italian restaurant Ermilio's for dinner after walking up a steep hill. If you didn’t know: Eureka Springs is extremely hilly. We had over an hour wait, but the food was well worth it and we passed time in the bar upstairs, drinking and playing games.

After we trekked back down the hill, we ended up at Chelsea’s Corner Cafe & Bar where a brass band was playing and the locals were dancing the night away. This bar has a ton of character, which we loved.

In the morning, we made one last stop at Oscar’s Cafe for some breakfast sandwiches and coffee. Like a lot of cafes in Eureka Springs, this one is in a house, which adds to the homey feel. After walking around the town for a little bit longer, it was time to make the short trip back to Springfield. Our weekend getaway had come to an end a little too quickly.

Floating Tips From an Amateur

Don’t be afraid to fall in. Once I accepted the fact that I was going to fall, I ended up doing better since I wasn’t so nervous.

Bring lots of sunscreen. Lakes aren’t typically shaded.

Think about what to do with your keys beforehand. If you drop them in the water, they’re probably gone forever.

Make sure you put enough air in your board or standing up will be close to impossible.

Paddle for a little while on your knees. Then when you feel confident, try to slowly stand-up with feet equally spaced apart.

If you drop your paddle, quickly pick it up. They float, but not forever.

Bring along a waterproof speaker and waterproof camera if you can. The lake is quite picturesque.